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US airline industry lobbying group chief retiring at end of year

The longtime head of the trade group Airline companies for America who assisted U.S. airline companies win $ 54 billion in federal COVID relief funds will retire at the end of the year.

Nick Calio, a former assistant to President George W. Bush, has headed the prominent airline company lobbying group considering that 2011 that includes American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, FedEx and Southwest Airlines . He has actually likewise promoted more funding for air traffic controllers and coped the Biden administration over regulative efforts.

Congress approved $54 billion in 3 rounds covering much of U.S. airline company payroll expenses for 18 months during the pandemic. Calio also safeguarded airlines' actions to survive as passenger traffic dropped.

In 2015, Calio urged the Biden administration to take swift action to attend to a long-standing air traffic controller lack and obsolete centers and technology.

Business as usual isn't sufficing, Calio stated in a speech in Washington in 2015. It is an immediate problem. It's easy to overlook perhaps on a day-to-day basis, however we need to come up with a strategy to address it.

President Joe Biden and Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg have actually consistently sparred with airline companies, while Airlines for America and some providers last year encouraged a U.S. appeals court to obstruct USDOT's brand-new guideline on in advance disclosure of airline company fees pending a full evaluation.

The Federal Air travel Administration is still about 3,000 controllers behind staffing targets and has about 10,600 licensed controllers.

In June, the FAA once again extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at overloaded New york city City-area airports through October 2025, pointing out a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Airlines have effectively combated against many propositions in Congress over the last few years, including one to need sensible. baggage charges, a mandate for airline-caused delay settlement or. another that might seriously damage the lucrative airline credit. card service.

(source: Reuters)